Why would a local Superior court not want members of the ACLU on a Jury?

I'm in the midst of a jury selection process for a criminal case in the city where I live. I'm under court orders not to discuss details of the case so I can't make any statements about it. The jury is still being selected. A group of prospective jurors are in the jury box and each have a piece of paper on which are written questions which they must answer. I haven't seen the piece of paper myself but, apparently, one of the questions asks whether or not the prospective juror is a member of the ACLU. Several times now I've heard people say, "I'm not a member of the ACLU." I don't consider myself a "member" of the ACLU but I certainly have donated money to them in the past. In any case, I find this question very odd. Even if I were a member of the ACLU, what would that have to do with my ability to fairly and impartially judge the facts of a case?

I'd be very interested in their answer.

Perhaps this is a sign that one of the attorneys, and perhaps the judge too, are far right. x(

I hope to have the courage to ask why the ACLU is specifically mentioned.

but chances are they'll get authoritarian and say "Just answer the question and don't worry about why. We'll determine what's relevant."

religious beliefs? Does it ask what political party you belong to? If you're a union member? I might well file a complaint about the ACLU question unless the case was one involving civil rights.

but from what I can gather from listening to answers the specific question is asking if one is a member of MADD (mothers against drunk driving), the ACLU or any other organization that might be critical of certain government policies. None of the other questions strike me as being unusual from the point of view of determining a prospective juror's ability to be impartial.

You're not a member, though, if you're not paying dues. I wouldn't volunteer any further information, unless ACLU involvement strikes you as germane to the case.

would want an ACLU member and the other (obviously, likely the prosecution) would not.

Either attorney can reject a few potentials with a "peremptory" challenge without stating a cause.

I have been selected as an alternate in this case and so am under orders not to discuss the specifics of the case.

However, I do have the questionnaire in hand and this is how the question is worded:

It sounds like those groups are only being used as an example to the main question
"belonged to or supported any organization that monitors, comments upon, or is otherwise involved with the criminal justice system"...

I just strikes me as an odd example to choose.

Each side presents its list of voir dire questions. There are some standard questions that they can choose from, then they can add their own. But the Court, itself, is not trying to exclude anyone.

Another favorite question, especially in murder cases, is "Do you regularly watch shows like CSI?" Defense attorneys don't like those people on their murder juries.